BLACK AMERICA’S OBAMA MYTH, PAGE 7 THE INDYPENDENT Issue #167, July 6 – July 26, 2011 A FREE PAPER FOR FREE PEOPLE WHAT REALLY SCARES LIBERALS (Hint: It’s Not the Far Right) Stanley Aronowitz, page 8 JULIELAQUER.COM BLOOMBERGVILLE SPECIAL SECTION: SECURE p3 TAKE BACK THE CITY COMMUNITIES p10 p4 INDYPENDENT.ORG community calendar JULY THE INDYPENDENT SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS AT THU JULY 14 [email protected]. 4-8pm • Free UPCOMING EXHIBIT: (S) FILES 2011 AT TIMES SQUARE WED JULY 6 ALLIANCE. As part of El Museo de Barrio’s EVENTS 7pm • Free sixth biennial, various (S) Files artists will be FILM: CLERMONT-FERRAND SHORT performing art and installing sculptures that THU, JULY 14-SUN, JULY 17 • VARIOUS TIMES FILMS. Join Rooftop Films at the Socrates celebrate the importance of public space SEMINAR: THEY SAY AUSTERITY, WE SAY SOLIDARITY!: 33RD ANNUAL Sculpture Garden to watch a collection and how it defines New York City. Featured INTENSIVE INTRODUCTION TO MARXISM. THE INDYPENDENT, INC. of new short films. All films are selected artists include Irvin Morazan, The Brecht Forum’s annual Summer Intensive is designed 666 BROADWAY, SUITE 500 from the 2011 Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Nicoykatiushka and Ryan Roa. as an introduction to the theoretical and practical NEW YORK, NY 10012 Festival and showcase work by various Duffy Square, Broadway and 46th St traditions that trace their origins to the works of Karl Marx PHONE: 212-904-1282 filmmakers. 212-831-7272 • elmuseo.org and Frederich Engels. Through lectures, readings and lively 3134 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City discussion, in an adamantly open-minded environment, BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 718-417-7362 • rooftopfilms.com SAT JULY 16 participants will be introduced to Marx’s revolutionary Ellen Davidson, Anna Gold, critique of capitalism and discover tools of analysis that can 11:30am-1pm • Free John Tarleton help us think more strategically and act more effectively. ACTION: EL BARRIO TODAY WALKING GENERAL MANAGER: FRI JULY 8 Sliding scale: $60-$90 Arun Gupta 7pm • Free TOUR. Explore the culture of El Barrio with EDITOR/COORDINATOR: ACTION: BROOKLYN CRITICAL MASS. El Barrio Today Arts Cluster on this walking Elizabeth Henderson Critical Mass is a bike ride that celebrates tour, which includes the Graffiti Wall of THU JULY 21 • 7:30-9:30PM cyclists and other forms of non-polluting Fame, Julia de Burgos Boulevard and local Do you write poetry? Would you be interested in feedback ILLUSTRATIONS COORDINATOR: from other socially-conscious poets about your work? Frank Reynoso transportation. It also allows cyclists and murals. The tour will start at El Museo Join us for this monthly workshop that meets every third DESIGNERS: pedestrians to assert their rights to the del Barrio’s lobby and will occur every Thursday of the month. For more information, email Steven Arnerich, Anna Gold, streets by being part of traffic. Saturday. [email protected] Mikael Tarkela Grand Army Plaza, Union St and Eastern El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue Sliding scale: $6/$10/$15 INTERN: Pkwy, Brooklyn 212-831-7272 • elmuseo.org Zayd Sifri, Kristy Zhen 212-802-8222 • times-up.org PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE: GENERAL INQUIRIES: 12-4pm • Free [email protected] brechtforum.org SAT JULY 9 EVENT: BIKE BONANZA. Recycle-A-Bicy- SUBMISSIONS AND NEWS TIPS: 212-242-4201 [email protected] 10am • Free cle’s Bike Bonanza at Red Hook Recreation EVENT: VACANT PROPERTY COUNT. Area features free, fun activities for the SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS: indypendent.org/donate Come out and help Picture the Homeless whole family, including a Learn to Ride class continue their citywide count of vacant for kids, free helmets and bike registration. BUILDING ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION: A MOVEMENT [email protected] properties. Registration via phone required Bay St and Henry St, Brooklyn THAT MOVES to participate. 718-858-2972 • recycleabicycle.com READER COMMENTS: 451 West Street [email protected] 100 Central Avenue, Staten Island (btwn Bank and Bethune) VOLUNTEER: 1637 Central Avenue, Queens THU JULY 21 [email protected] 646-314-6423 • picturethehomeless.org 2pm • Free INDYKIDS: LECTURE: FAIR HOUSING LAW: A QUES- WED JULY 27 SUN JULY 31 [email protected] SUN JULY 10 TION AND ANSWER WORKSHOP. The 7-9pm • Free 12-7pm • Free 9am • Free New York City Commission on Human EXHIBIT: SCENE(SEEN)/HERE(HEAR): FAIR & PICNIC: 21ST ANNUAL LGBT The Indypendent is a New York-based ACTIVITY: TOUR DE QUEENS. Claim public Rights will discuss fair housing laws and MUSIC. Come to the BRIC Rotunda DOMINICAN/LATINO HEALTH FAIR free newspaper published 16 times a year space for cyclists and raise your biking tenants’ rights to accessibility and reason- gallery for this exhibit that re-imagines PICNIC. This annual health fair hosted Gay on Wednesdays for our print and online awareness in a leisurely paced 20-mile able accommodations. individuals’ relationship to space, sound, and Lesbian Dominican Empowerment will readership of more than 200,000. It is bike ride through Queens. Sponsored by St. George Library Center, 5 Central Avenue, thought and time. Curated by Christian feature rapid HIV testing, free condoms produced by a network of volunteers who Transportation Alternatives. Registration Staten Island Fuller and featuring the music of La Big Vic and information about health services and report, write, edit, draw, design, take required. 718-442-8562 • nypl.org and wish and the video art of Jon William issues. There will also be food, music and photos, distribute, fundraise and provide Flushing Meadows Park by the Queens and Rebecca Gaffney. other entertainment. website management. Since 2000, more Museum of Art SUN JULY 24 33 Clinton Street, Brooklyn Inwood Hill Park, Broadway and Isham St. than 650 journalists, artists and media 212-629-8080 • tourdequeens.org 3pm • Free 718-683-5600 • bricartsmedia.org 212-584-9311 • leshrc.org activists have participated in this proj- CELEBRATION: OUTDOOR HARLEM ect. Winner of more than 50 New York 11am-1pm • $5 PARKS MUSIC AND SCREENING SERIES. THU JULY 28 FOR MORE IDEAS ON WAYS TO Community Media Alliance awards, The ACTIVITY: OUTDOOR COMPOSTING Maysles Institute and Sundae Sermon 5-8pm • Free RECLAIM PUBLIC SPACE, SEE Indypendent is funded by subscriptions, WORKSHOP. Come to the Pleasant Village present a free day of music from four DJs CELEBRATION: FIERCE ARTISTIC NIGHT. OUR TAKE BACK THE CITY GUIDE reader donations, grants, merchandise Community Garden to learn the basics of and a screening of Maestro at 8:15 pm. The LGBT youth will showcase their talents in ON PAGES 7-18. sales, benefits and advertising. We accept compost maintenance. Outdoor compost film details the start of New York City’s dance, poetry, art, music, drag and other submissions that look at news and culture bins will be available for purchase at a underground dance scene in the 1970s. performances. SIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR through a critical lens, exploring how sys- reduced price. Registration required on the Morningside Park, Morningside Dr Hudson River Park, WEEKLY CALENDAR VIA EMAIL AT tems of power — economic, political and Lower East Side Ecology Center website. and W 114th St Christopher Street Pier 45 INDYPENDENT.ORG social — affect the lives of people locally 342 Pleasant Ave 212-582-6050 • mayslesinstitute.org 646-336-6789 • fiercenyc.org and globally. The Indypendent reserves 212-477-4022 • lesecologycenter.org the right to edit articles for length, content and clarity. The Indypendent is affiliated with the New York City Independent Media Cen- ter, which is part of the global Indymedia WHERE DO I GET MY COPY OF THE INDYPENDENT ? movement, an international network ded- icated to fostering grassroots media pro- BELOW 14TH ST. 14TH TO 96TH ST. New York Public Library Video Gallery ’sNice Café New York Public Library duction, and with IndyKids, a children’s WBAI - 99.5FM New York Public Library Harlem Branch 310 Seventh Ave. 315 Fifth Ave. Mott Haven Library 9 W. 124th St. 321 E. 140th St. newspaper. NYC IMC is an open publish- 120 Wall St., 10th floor Epiphany Branch Ozzie’s Coffee Shop Purity Diner 228 E. 23rd St. ing website (nyc.indymedia.org). DC 37 Headquarters New York Public Library 249 5th Ave. 43 Underhill Ave. 125 Barclay St. Chelsea Square Restaurant Hamilton Grange Branch 57 Seventh Ave. STATEN ISLAND 503 W. 145th St. Brooklyn Public Library St. George Library W. 23rd St. & 9th Ave. Verb Café Bedford Branch VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTORS: Bluestockings 5 Central Ave. 172 Allen St. Manhattan Neighborhood Uptown Sister’s Books Bedford Ave. & N. 5th St. 496 Franklin St. Sam Alcoff, Elvis Bakaitis, Bennett W. 156 St. & Amsterdam Port Richmond Branch Network Pillow Café Parkside Deli Baumer, Donna Davey, Ellen Davidson, Housing Works 537 W. 59th St. Library 126 Crosby St. Bloomingdale Branch 505 Myrtle Ave. 203 Parkside Ave. 75 Bennett St. Erika Eichelberger, Renée Feltz, Seth Library New York Public Library Sisters Community Hard- Fisher, Sophie Forbes, Leo Garcia, Mary Hudson Park Branch Library Muhlenberg Branch 150 W. 100th St. Dot Com Cafe 66 Leroy St. ware BRONX 36 Bay St. Annaïse Heglar, Irina Ivanova, Dondi J, 209 W. 23rd St. 900 Fulton St. Brook Park Mercer St. Books BROOKLYN 141st St. & Brook Ave. Everything Goes Book Café Alex Kane, Julie Laquer, John McDonald, St. Agnes Branch Library Brooklyn Public Library 206 Mercer St. 444 Amsterdam Ave. (btw Brooklyn Museum 208 Bay St. Mike Newton, Jaisal Noor, Jessica Pat- 200 Eastern Pkwy. Pacific Street Branch The Point Whole Earth Bakery W. 81st and 82nd Sts.) 25 Fourth Ave. 940 Garrison Ave. rick, Nicholas Powers, Sophie Ragsdale, 130 St. Marks Place BAM THE INDYPENDENT Ann Schneider, Marlena Buczek Smith, TH 30 Lafayette Ave. K-Dog & Dune Buggy Brecht Forum ABOVE 96 ST. 43 Lincoln Rd. Zachary Smith, John Tarleton, Lucy 451 West St.